Ron Culmo's mugshot from February 2022.
MILFORD – The former Derby public works director who allegedly embezzled $97,000 from the Adriatic Marchegian Club on Hawthorne Avenue will return to court next month.
Culmo was originally scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday (March 27). However, his court date was continued to April 25. He has had nineteen scheduled appearances since his arrest in February 2022.
Culmo’s lawyer, Greg Cerritelli, said in a phone call that both sides are still trying to figure out how much — if any — restitution is owed. He said he expects the case to continue for a while yet.
“It’s an open question whether there’s any monies owed,” he said.
Culmo is charged with first-degree larceny. He pleaded not guilty.
Culmo was the director of the Derby Public Works Department from about 2005 until 2013.
Police allege Culmo stole money from the AM Club to fund a gambling habit and to cover costs from living above his means, according to a warrant from Derby police.
Culmo made monthly gambling trips to Connecticut casinos between 2015 and 2020, according to the police investigation. The trips lined up with transfers he made transferring AM Club bank funds into his private bank account.
Culmo’s crimes are alleged to have started in 2015, shortly after the AM Club made Culmo secretary treasurer of the club. The warrant notes the longtime members of the club trusted Culmo, some having known him for 50 years, which could be why the stealing went unnoticed for years.
AM Club members noticed something was wrong with their finances in June 2020, when club members were talking about making repairs to their building at 30 Hawthorne Ave.
According to the warrant, AM Club President Jacques“Jocko” Veillette grew suspicious of Culmo after Culmo resisted taking money from the bank to make repairs.
Veillette expected there to be $100,000 in the AM Club’s bank accounts. Veillette then checked the AM Club’s bank accounts — and saw they had just $4,000.
The AM Club brought in an accounting firm to look into what happened, and a police investigation kicked off in July 2020.
According to the warrant, Culmo was busiest in 2017, when he allegedly made five money transfers and three monetary withdrawals totaling $22,200. In 2019 there were 14 withdrawals totaling $23,150.
Meanwhile, police said Culmo lost $163,761 gambling on slot machines at Mohegan Sun Casino between 2015 and 2020.
Culmo was making about $54,000 annually in pension and social security benefits, according to the warrant. He was also paid $500 per month as the AM Club’s secretary treasurer.
“On average, Culmo’s monthly expenses exceeded his monthly income requiring fund transfers to cover losses in his own personal account,” according to the warrant.
The AM Club, a private social club, has been in Derby since 1926. It was formed to promote and encourage Italian culture. Its monthly porchetta dinners remain a popular draw locally.
